Nick
Well-Known Member
Please, keep these tips coming! I am literally writing them down (on my computer).
Non-rev travel Abroad??
- Thread starter whoareyou310
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Please, keep these tips coming! I am literally writing them down (on my computer).
were you flying buddy pass or ID90?! usually, the cost is put into the ID90/buddy pass ticket... if your flying based on your own employee number, then it *typically* gets deducted out of your paycheck. i betcha somehow, your paying those taxes or will be paying them. haha
Nick
Well-Known Member
It was a non-cockpit jumpseat. No ID90/ZED/buddy passes at all, just a boarding pass.
It didn't come out of the paycheck I got since that day...I'll keep my eye out for it but nothing yet.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
Actually, if you jumpseat international, you do need to pay taxes. Some times you can get around it simply by the agent not remembering or not knowing how to, but in theory you are supposed to pay taxes before you get a jump seat. The only way around that is to be listed on the crew manifest.
Nick
Well-Known Member
That is exactly what I think happened.
Cabin jumpseat already meant no charge, but we knew we'd have to pay the departure tax.
Well, not like I tried to avoid it or anything -- I asked how much and where to pay! Nobody really knew who should charge us or something so it never materialized. Before the trip we planned to pay either in cash or by credit card.
ILSstud
Well-Known Member
It's relatively easy if you are flexible! A few weeks ago I called mom up and asked if she wanted to go to Europe for the weekend. We decided on Munich, saw that the flights were fulling up towards a week before, so we opted on Edinburgh instead. Great flights both ways...got business elite too each way. Coming back though was a bit stressful in that the Glasgow airport bombing occured that weekend, so it seemed that lots of people wanted to go back home, and the flight back to ATL oversold by 36 people. We stayed an extra day and it was no problem, however our contingency was to take the train to Manchester and fly out which was an open flight.
As Kristie said its a tad more predictable going over the pond because the loads do indeed steady out about 2-3 days out from your trip. I've had domestic flights fill up and oversell between me checking in the morning and heading to the airport in the afternoon!
Not sure how USAirways is, but I would definately recommend using the benefits to your advantage to see Europe. It's a little stressful when you are at the airport and things seem a bit more chaotic than in the States, but when you are sitting in your business class seat (or economy for that matteR) and you know you only paid about 80-100 dollars for the trip, IT'S WORTH IT!
One thing, and I've noticed this in several destinations (EDI, CDG-the worst, ATH, and FCO) that when you are standby sometimes they don't let you through security until checkin has closed. That's when they sometimes clear standbys instead of loading your bags and letting you proceed through security with only a seat request card. In short, it's a free for all when they start shouting last names in a crowd full of people.
Enjoy your travels though...I know I do!
As Kristie said its a tad more predictable going over the pond because the loads do indeed steady out about 2-3 days out from your trip. I've had domestic flights fill up and oversell between me checking in the morning and heading to the airport in the afternoon!
Not sure how USAirways is, but I would definately recommend using the benefits to your advantage to see Europe. It's a little stressful when you are at the airport and things seem a bit more chaotic than in the States, but when you are sitting in your business class seat (or economy for that matteR) and you know you only paid about 80-100 dollars for the trip, IT'S WORTH IT!
One thing, and I've noticed this in several destinations (EDI, CDG-the worst, ATH, and FCO) that when you are standby sometimes they don't let you through security until checkin has closed. That's when they sometimes clear standbys instead of loading your bags and letting you proceed through security with only a seat request card. In short, it's a free for all when they start shouting last names in a crowd full of people.
Enjoy your travels though...I know I do!
av8sean
New Member
It's relatively easy if you are flexible! A few weeks ago I called mom up and asked if she wanted to go to Europe for the weekend. We decided on Munich, saw that the flights were fulling up towards a week before, so we opted on Edinburgh instead. Great flights both ways...got business elite too each way. Coming back though was a bit stressful in that the Glasgow airport bombing occured that weekend, so it seemed that lots of people wanted to go back home, and the flight back to ATL oversold by 36 people. We stayed an extra day and it was no problem, however our contingency was to take the train to Manchester and fly out which was an open flight.
As Kristie said its a tad more predictable going over the pond because the loads do indeed steady out about 2-3 days out from your trip. I've had domestic flights fill up and oversell between me checking in the morning and heading to the airport in the afternoon!
Not sure how USAirways is, but I would definately recommend using the benefits to your advantage to see Europe. It's a little stressful when you are at the airport and things seem a bit more chaotic than in the States, but when you are sitting in your business class seat (or economy for that matteR) and you know you only paid about 80-100 dollars for the trip, IT'S WORTH IT!
One thing, and I've noticed this in several destinations (EDI, CDG-the worst, ATH, and FCO) that when you are standby sometimes they don't let you through security until checkin has closed. That's when they sometimes clear standbys instead of loading your bags and letting you proceed through security with only a seat request card. In short, it's a free for all when they start shouting last names in a crowd full of people.
Enjoy your travels though...I know I do!
That's what happened to me in Bangkok... I was an off-line nonrev trying to fly back to the US on Northwest. The flight left at 6am, and by 5:20a the ticket agents started getting ready to go home. At the last minute, they started calling names. There were about 10 people waiting, including a NW Indian employee with about 6 kids. Everyone got on except me.
ILSstud
Well-Known Member
Don't you love that?? I had a strange feeling that they were clearing retirees too ahead of current employees, which at my airline is not how the standby priority goes. I wanted to raise a fuss, but I've also been told not to piss off station managers when wearing your employee ID and what not...they really should invest in some gate information screens at their international destinations...it would make things MUCH easier!
Cav
Former Maddog Whisperer
I just nonreved back from Lisbon yesterday. Like everyone says flexibility is the key. Have a plan and a back up plan. Give yourself a few days on the back end of your vacation just in case. Stack the cards in your favor by not committing to departing out of one city alone. Take some ID90/ZED passes with you since they will add to your flexibility. I've found it's always easier to have the passes in hand rather than trying to purchase them at the counters abroad. Some agents don't even know how to issue them and most don't want to deal with it since the ticket counter at most international outstations is only open during a short period of arrivals and departures....in other words they are busy dealing with the paying passengers and you'll be a low priority. Know the train system in the area you are trying to get to. Don't be affraid to purchase tickets on a foreign carrier to get you from one city to another to "connect." Like Doug said most of the Europe to US flights are leaving at the same time so hoping from one gate to the other isn't always possible. Stack the cards in your favor by heading to the city with the most open seats on a particular flight.
As for first class, my wife and I have been very lucky. Out of the 7 flights that we have nonreved on either to or from Europe, we have sat in first class you guessed it...7 times! We've made it happen by being flexible with the cities we depart from and the fact that CAL generally doesn't upgrade Elites on international flights without spending some FF miles. We have not been so lucky in Asia. 1 for 5 in that part of the world but that was NRT-MSP on a 744 which was pretty cool.
As for first class, my wife and I have been very lucky. Out of the 7 flights that we have nonreved on either to or from Europe, we have sat in first class you guessed it...7 times! We've made it happen by being flexible with the cities we depart from and the fact that CAL generally doesn't upgrade Elites on international flights without spending some FF miles. We have not been so lucky in Asia. 1 for 5 in that part of the world but that was NRT-MSP on a 744 which was pretty cool.
that's exactly what we do too....in order to get biz elite, we stay as flexible as possible and if we have to go thru atl vs cvg to get there biz elite style, we'll do that. there have only been maybe 2 or 3 times that we've sat back in coach going overseas (out of ALL our non-rev trips).
but question....you say take some ID90/ZED passes with you....you have to pay for those ahead of time don't you?! wouldn't that be non-refundable money lost then if you don't use it?
Cav
Former Maddog Whisperer
The ID90/ZED passes we take are 100% refundable as long as you do so in a set time frame which varies by carrier (although generally 6 months). The only carrier I know of with non-refundable nonrev tickets is SWA but they are really cheap. That's the CAL system agreement which I would assume is the same for DAL. CAL has an employee travel office in each of the hubs which makes them easy to purchase. My point about taking them with me is based mostly on the fact that it seems that some of the outstations really don't like to deal with selling them to you....atleast at CAL, I have no idea how DAL sells Zed/ID90s. It came in real handy having them with us coming back from Bangkok through Tokyon NRT. I looked the night before at the NRT-EWR and even the NRT-IAH flights which were booked solid. There were some senior nonrevs who had been stuck for at least an extra night. We decided to skip the CAL gates entirely since we had NWA Zeds in hand and their flights gave us multiple options to the US since their operation there is pretty large. It turned a potential stressful situation into a normal trip. It may have cost a little more for the ticket but in the end we probably saved money by not having to spend an extra night or two in an expensive city like Tokyo.
Europe in the summer is a mission to get to. Depending on seniority and priority you may make it on but there is a better possiblility it will be the dreaded middle seat, but a seat nonetheless. As far as bizz class goes it's a bit more difficult for the revenue people to upgrade. It costs a bit more to make your tkt even upgradeable, and when the flying public sees a fare that is four digits long they seem to be inclined to stay coach. The latest I have ever headed to Europe was May and I was golden each way. I personally would stay away June thru the first week of September.
jayd1038
Well-Known Member
One thing, and I've noticed this in several destinations (EDI, CDG-the worst, ATH, and FCO) that when you are standby sometimes they don't let you through security until checkin has closed. That's when they sometimes clear standbys instead of loading your bags and letting you proceed through security with only a seat request card. In short, it's a free for all when they start shouting last names in a crowd full of people.
Enjoy your travels though...I know I do!
Anyone know if this is still common so many years after this post?
My gf and I want to go to Europe anyhwere really but we only have 5 days to do so, it would be a quick 2-3 day stay max, but of course the only time that has worked in our busy schedule to go is, you guessed it, the dreaded busy month of July. In getting out somewhere it doesnt seem that bad, but getting back is the real worry I have, because I cannot miss work. I'd really like to go before she starts medical school back up again in August.
jayd1038
Well-Known Member
I google searched nonreving to Europe in the summer and this was one of the things that came up.
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